3. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut
in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Zechariah adds here another metaphor, which is very apposite; for when the ungodly made war against the holy city, the object
was not to reduce it only to subjection, or to impose a tribute or a tax, or simply to rule over it, — what then? to cut it
off entirely and obliterate its name. Since then such a cruelty would instigate enemies to assail the holy city, the Prophet
here interposes and declares that it would be to them a most
burdensome stone. He thus compares the enemies of Jerusalem to a man who attempts to take up a stone when he is too weak
to do so. He then injures his own strength; for when a man tries to do what is too much for him, he loosens some of his joints,
or breaks his sinews. The Prophet then means, that though many nations conspired against Jerusalem, and made every effort
to overthrow it, they should yet at length find it to be a weight far too heavy for them: they should therefore break or
lacerate their own arms, for their sinews would be broken by over-exertion.
154154 Literally it is, —All her lifters, cut they shall be cut, or,
wounded they shall be wounded. The whole verse is as follows, —And it shall be in that day, That I will make Jerusalem
A burdensome stone to all nations;
All her lifters, wounded they shall be wounded,
When gathered against her
Shall be all the people of the land. — Ed.
Some explain the last clause more frigidly, “In tearing he will be torn,” as when any one takes up a rough stone, he tears
his own hands. But the Prophet, I have no doubt, meant to set forth something more serious; and each clause would thus correspond
much better; for as we have said, the object of the ungodly was to remove Jerusalem, so as not to leave a stone upon a stone:
but God declares here that it would be too heavy a burden, so that they would find their own strength broken
in attempting inconsiderately to remove what could not be transferred from its own place.

Now the reason for this prophecy is, because God was the founder of Jerusalem, as it is said,

“Its foundations are in the holy mountains, love does the Lord the gates of Sion,”
(Psalm 87:1,2;)

We must also remember what we have observed in the last verse: for though the heavens are in continual motion, they yet retain
their positions, and do not fall into disorder; but were the heavens and the earth blended together, still Jerusalem, founded
by God’s hand and exempt from the common lot of men, and whose condition was peculiar, would remain firm and unchangeable.
We hence see why the Prophet says, that there would be no other
issue to the ungodly, while attempting to overthrow Jerusalem, than to wound and tear themselves.

He then adds, And assemble against them shall all nations. This, as we have said, was added in order to show, that though enemies flocked together from every quarter, God would yet
be superior to them. This clause then contains an amplification, to encourage the faithful to continue in their hope with
invincible constancy, though they saw themselves surrounded by hosts
of enemies. It afterwards follows —

154 Literally it is, —All her lifters, cut they shall be cut, or,
wounded they shall be wounded. The whole verse is as follows, —And it shall be in that day, That I will make Jerusalem
A burdensome stone to all nations;
All her lifters, wounded they shall be wounded,
When gathered against her
Shall be all the people of the land. — Ed.